We discovered music. We then invented genres.
After many a column brokered, metaphors tortured, and criticisms brooked we convinced ourselves that we are a civilized culture.
While music presents no rules and leaves the beholder to ascertain the beauty in anything, we appointed ourselves gatekeepers to supposed purity standards.
In doing so, we not only poisoned the well of elixir for any thirsty traveler, we might have forgotten the reasons for embracing art.
It's not an extra-curricular, it's not just something nice on the weekend - it is continuing education. It is history, sociology, anthropology, economics and aesthetics all rolled into one - and another lens to look at the reason for why "us".
Carlos Santana and Indian Ocean offer the unbridled joy for me so I may never be shackled by the cynicism of our own constructs. The joy of their art lets me be, instead of being suspicious of my own shadow.
Some wise words to sum all of this up.
